Proverbs 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things.
This promise that the Lord will deliver you from the way of evil people is based on the condition of hearing the Word, seeking knowledge, gaining wisdom (Jesus), studying the Bible, going to church, and such. Believing in Jesus is, of course, a wise thing to do. Faith in the gospel of Christ “delivers us from evil,” as we pray according the Lord’s Prayer.
Delivering from evil does not mean that “bad things” won’t happen, for we live in sinful, fallen, cursed world, but we will be delivered from the evil of the bad things. The eternal evil thing that we are delivered from is the “killing of both soul and body in hell.” This we should fear. From this evil Christ delivers us. Therefore, we believe, we pray, we fear not, we “fear” (believe) only God.
When we know the Bible and believe the Gospel we have Wisdom, or eternal life within. Then the promise is that we are delivered (defended, protected) from the way of the evil man. The evil man is the unbeliever who is without God and lives the way of the world. Wisdom delivers us from that Way of Life. Thank God for that promise, for the way that seems right to a man ends in death, eternal separation from God.
Psalm 1 is our guide: “Blessed is the man that…standeth not in the way of sinners…but his delight is in the law of the Lord…and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Medition on God’s Word is a great way to avoid the evil way. The way of the world and of the flesh is always with us, but there is another Way. It is Jesus. He delivers.